Halal market opens export opportunities for Vietnamese products

With more than 2 billion consumers and a market worth trillions of US dollars, the Halal market is emerging as a “golden gateway” for Vietnamese products to expand exports to the Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN countries with large Muslim populations.

Cashew nuts for export are processed at a factory in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai City. Photo: Le Quyen

With its strengths in agriculture, food processing, and exports, Dong Nai is well-positioned to open up a new avenue for local products. However, turning potential into actual orders requires businesses to prepare more than just a certificate.

A gateway to export markets

The global Halal market is expanding rapidly, driven by the growth of the Muslim middle class and rising demand for products with transparent origins and production processes. The global Halal food and beverage market alone is worth around US$2 trillion. Other sectors are also growing rapidly. For instance, spending on Muslim-friendly tourism reached about US$249 billion in 2024 and is forecast to rise to US$424 billion by 2029.

However, experts said that despite its vast opportunities, the Halal market cannot be approached simply by adding another certificate to export documents. Halal requirements apply throughout the entire product chain, covering raw materials, production and processing, hygiene, packaging, storage, transportation, and traceability.

With its wide range of agricultural products, Dong Nai has an opportunity to increase exports to the Halal market.

Nguyen Thi Ninh, Deputy Director of Business and Customer Care at GHC Global Halal Certification Co., Ltd. (GHC) in Ho Chi Minh City, said businesses should first identify their target markets, then study their specific requirements and select an appropriate certification program. Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Middle East, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries each have their own characteristics, so businesses should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.

Businesses, therefore, need to change their mindset instead of waiting for orders before preparing for certification. Products, target markets, and applicable standards should be identified from the outset. In this way, Halal compliance becomes part of a product and market development strategy rather than an additional procedure at the end of the process.

The Government's issuance of Decree No. 127/2026/ND-CP dated April 6, 2026, on quality management and development policies for Halal products and services provides a stronger legal framework for the sector. The decree covers standards, the declaration of applicable standards, labeling, traceability, testing, and Halal certification, and provides a basis for implementing policies to develop Halal products and services.

What Halal production requires

Dong Nai has strengths in agriculture, livestock farming, food processing, and exports, while its logistics network and transport connectivity are becoming increasingly developed. Trinh Thi Hoa, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology, said that as international integration deepens, diversifying markets and meeting international standards have become increasingly important for businesses. The Halal market could open up new opportunities for Dong Nai's key products, particularly agricultural produce and processed food.

Dong Nai City People's Committee's Plan No. 76/KH-UBND dated June 8, 2026, on implementing the Government's Decree No. 127/2026/ND-CP calls for Halal development to be integrated into the city's long-term, medium-term, and annual socio-economic development plans. Agricultural products, processed food, and Halal tourism services have been identified as priority areas for development.

According to Trinh Thi Hoa, businesses seeking to access this market effectively must fully understand the requirements related to raw materials, production processes, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, labeling, traceability, cross-contamination control, and certification. For export products, businesses must also comply with the specific regulations of each importing market.

Regarding products, Nguyen Thi Ninh said Dong Nai could prioritize commodity groups in which the city already has an advantage, including bananas, pomelos, mangoes, durians, cashew nuts, coffee, pepper, honey, and processed food products made from agricultural produce. Malaysia and Indonesia are notable markets in ASEAN, while Singapore, the Middle East, and GCC countries could open up higher-value market segments.

The key is to move beyond exporting raw materials by increasing the proportion of processed products and developing products tailored to the needs of individual markets. When products meet quality requirements, have clear origins, appropriate packaging, and the required certification, their commercial value will no longer depend solely on volume.

For businesses, access to information and compliance with standards are particularly important. Ngoc Bich Production, Trading and Services Co., Ltd., in Long Thanh ward, a business engaged in poultry farming, processing, and distribution, controls its raw material sources, organizes production through a one-way process, ensures traceability for each batch, and trains workers to minimize the risk of compromising Halal integrity. According to Le Duong Hanh, the company's director, current challenges involve not only maintaining the production system but also finding suitable import partners, distributors, and qualified personnel. The company hopes for more trade promotion programs and specialized Halal training.

The gap between “meeting standards” and “actually selling products” remains considerable. Therefore, according to Rosat Thanh Hai Sang, a technical expert at GHC, a Halal ecosystem needs to be developed across the entire value chain, from raw material areas and suppliers to production, certification, logistics, importers, and distributors. This requires coordinated participation from regulatory authorities, businesses, certification organizations, and trade promotion agencies.

By V. Gia – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho